Sailing inyourfootsteps.com

12°C

Swell today

Direction SW, height 0.1 metres, period 9.9 seconds, significant wave height of 0.5 metres.

Haven position?

52° 11.670' N, 006° 54.750' W

Where is that position?

In the middle of the anchorage.

What is the initial fix?

This waypoint is 600 metres south by southwest of the Waterford Channel Number 1. starboard-hand marker (Fl.G.2s on a bearing of 009°T). It is directly east of Creadan Head, upon the eastern side of the Waterford Channel where at night you will see the Dunmore East leading lights alternate white/green.

What is the story here?

Dollar Bay lies in Waterford Harbour’s eastern shore approximately five miles north of Hook Head lighthouse. It is a secluded and picturesque anchorage.

Dollar Bay offers is a good anchorage but somewhat open to the prevalent quarters. It offers excellent protection from the northeast round to south. If the wind should strengthen and turn around to the southwest, exposing Dollar Bay, the Seedes Bank (see separate listing) is available approximately three miles up the harbour.

Navigation is straightforward as the bay has completely unhindered seaward access and excellent sand and mud holding.

Please note a potential race can develop at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. Prepare for a turbulent time on the entry if there is a strong south easterly blowing into an ebb tide. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force eight on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided until the tide turns.

Why visit here?

Dollar Bay is very much as it is denoted in the picture a beautiful unspoilt beach. It is a perfect place to spend time with friends and enjoy beach or a barbecue. Alternatively you could devote some time to searching for treasure and the history of how the bay acquired its name is of some interest here.

The story begins in June 1765, when the Earl of Sandwich sailed from the Canaries for London. She was carrying passengers and a cargo of wine, Spanish milled dollars and gold dust. Four of the crew killed all on board and headed for the Irish coast. On discovering that the ship was sinking, they took to a boat and headed for shore with two tons of the dollars.

They landed at what was then known Fishertown and buried the dollars on the beach, which became known as Dollar Bay from the event. From there they travelled onto New Ross but had 1,200 dollars stolen from them in an alehouse, where they were reported to be spending freely. The pirates were apprehended at the Black Bull Inn at Thomas Street and the Duncannon Garrison was sent to recover the buried money. The sinking ‘Earl of Sandwich’ at this stage ran ashore at Islandkeane near Tramore. The pirates had not taken all the coins from the Earl of Sandwich. John Rogers of Tramore made a salvage claim on 23 February 1767 for the remaining 1,200 dollars that were found aboard.

After a trial, the four were executed on 31 March 1766. The four pirates were executed by hanging at St Stephen’s Green and suspended in chains on Muglins Island off Dublin. This was the traditional place where East coast pirates were left as a warning to others.

How to get in?

Once Hook Head Light House has been identified check the chart for the location of the race.

Hook Head Lighthouse - Fl 3s 46m 24M position: 52° 07.300’N, 006° 55.700’W

The race is at the harbour entrance where the estuary tide meets the sea in rough conditions. At deck level the strong race will be clearly visible, a very short chop with the water dark green to seaward and light green / pale blue inside and this colouration is particularly visible in sheltered waters. When the tide is on the ebb the chop is much shorter, in the flood the wave length is longer and much easier. In extreme conditions, such as a south easterly force eight on an ebb tide, it can be particularly bad and it would be best avoided. Once past the race, and inside the harbour, the seaway quickly calms and Waterford Harbour offers good depths for the pleasure sailor.

From the initial fix there is plenty of water to strike a northeast course off for just over a mile and round Broomhill Point to come into Dollar Bay.

Tuck in as far as you are comfortable in under the headland. The closer inshore you anchor the better protection the bay offers from southerlies. Be very cautious of tide heights. The area gradually falls away so the drying area is quiet surprising.

Dollar Bay is approximately five nautical miles from Hook Head and with strong current of up to 3 knots, either way, in this area you need to factor this into the passage plan.

What are the tides here?

Today's local tide estimates are based on High Water Cobh +0017
Today's Cobh tides — High waters: 06:31, 18:48, Low waters: 00:38, 12:54
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 00:05, 12:22, Low waters: 07:13, 19:27 (From Tide Times)
Dover -0535, mean level 2.4 metres.
MHWS 4.1m MHWN 3.2m MLWN 1.3m MLWS 0.4m

Outside the entrance of Waterford Harbour
West going stream begins -0100 Dover or (+0450 Cobh)
East going stream begins at +0515 Dover (-0120 Cobh).
The external spring rate not exceeding 1 kn

Inside the Waterford Harbour estuary:
The flood begins at +0210 Dover (-0425 Cobh).
The ebb tide at -0505 Dover (+0045 Cobh).
Strong tides of up to 3 knots inside the estuary following the channels

The latest monthly Dover Tides and Cobh Tides courtesy of the National Environmental Research Council. Printable monthly tides for Dublin, Dunmore, Cobh, Galway, Belfast are available from the ISA.

The national weather forecast, Met Éireann and BBC shipping forecasts, plus a very simplified Leinster tourist outlook. From an Atlantic perspective a 24 hour North Atlantic synoptic chart that you may ‘right click’ and save to your hard disk. Met Éireann’s Eastern Atlantic chart and the BBC’s surface area forecast plus visible satellite images for Ireland and Northeast Atlantic from Met Éireann. Wind observations, XC UK & Ireland, Windguru wind & wave reports, and Windfinder where you can determine a forecast time. Coastal radio stations (VHF Channel) Weather forecast at 0103 and thence every 3 hours updated every sixth. Carlingford 04, Dublin 83, Wicklow Head 02, Rosslare 23 and Mine Head 83. Radio broadcasts on RTE 1 (89.1FM) 0603, 1253, 1655 and 2355.

A free tidal range prediction application for windows, a simple tide monitor plus the rule of twelfths are available in inyourfootsteps.com shared ‘experience’.

What facilities are available?

Dollar Bay is a remote cove with no amenities. However the cliff enclosed bay and secluded beach offers an excellent dinghy landing area. As mentioned above the tide exposes a large open beach so if you are landing by dinghy make it a light one that is easy to carry a great distance.

There is a pathway access to a paved road 50 metres from the beach albeit up a steep incline. Finding the beach by road is easiest if driving along the main Wellington Bridge to Duncannon road. Coming from Wellington Bridge after you come into The Hollow and turn left about 50 metres after the pub. Dollar bay is 5 kilometres down that road on the right had side indicated by a small brown sign.

What emergency contacts are there?

Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Other useful contacts in this area:
Dunmore East Harbour Master's Office: VHF Ch 16 when manned
Tel +353 51 383166
Port of Waterford Harbour Master: VHF ch.16 and 14
Phone: +353 51 74499, Mobile +353 87 7931705

Any security concerns?

Dollar Bay is a secluded bay with few people to disturb an anchored yacht.

What navigational resources are available for this area?

Admiralty Chart 2049 ‘Old Head of Kinsale to Tuskar Rock’ scale of 1:150,000 covers this sailing area. The key chart for Waterford Harbour area is Admiralty Charts 2046. This covers Waterford Harbour at a scale of 1:25,000, with details of Waterford Port - scale of 1:7,500, continuation of the River Barrow to New Ross - scale of 1:25,000, New Ross - scale of 1:10,000 and Dunmore East Harbour - scale of 1:5,000.

Imray charts C57 and C61 overlap in this area plus Discovery Ordinance Survey map 76 covers the land area.

With thanks to:

John Carroll, Ballyhack, Co.Wexford, Ireland.

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